Academic Standards

Announcements about Wisconsin Standards (Summer 2026)

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will open public comment and review on the following standards on July 31, 2026.  We welcome public input to the state standards.    

The revised Wisconsin Standards for Music will be open for public comment on July 31, 2026.  "Public Comment" refers to standards that have been revised over the course of the last year.  Music standards are being revised and will open for comment this summer.  When ready, the links will go live on this webpage. 

Environmental Literacy & Sustainability, Dance, Art & Design Education, and Personal Financial Literacy will be open for public review on July 31, 2026.  "Public Review" refers to standards that may go to revision in the next 12 months, a decision which is partially dependent on public review and input on whether or not revision is needed at this time.  When ready, the links for public review will go live on this webpage.

What are Wisconsin Academic Standards?

Wisconsin Academic Standards define the knowledge and skills students should develop throughout their learning experiences. They establish clear goals for teaching and learning and provide a shared vision for student success.

By setting high expectations, the standards help students, families, educators, and communities understand what students should know and be able to do at key points in their educational journey.

In Wisconsin, state academic standards serve as a model and guide. Locally elected school boards determine and adopt academic standards in each subject area to meet the needs and priorities of their local communities.

Why are Academic Standards Important?

We must ensure that all students have equitable access to high-quality educational opportunities. Clearly defined expectations for what students should know and be able to do are essential to supporting consistent, meaningful learning experiences and ensuring schools provide the knowledge and skills students need for success beyond the classroom.

What Informs the Implementation of Academic Standards?

Wisconsin’s Guiding Principles for Teaching and Learning inform the design and implementation of all academic standards. All educational initiatives are guided and impacted by attitudes or principles for teaching and learning. 

The Guiding Principles for Teaching and Learning provide the touchstone for practices that affect the vision of every child a graduate prepared for college and career. When made transparent, these principles inform what happens in the classroom, the implementation and evaluation of programs, and remind us of our own beliefs and expectations for students. 

Academic Standards Under Review and Revision

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has a transparent and comprehensive process for reviewing and revising academic standards. The process begins with a notice of intent to review an academic area with a public comment period. The State Superintendent’s Academic Standards Review Council examines those comments and recommends whether or not to revise or develop standards in that academic area. 

The State Superintendent authorizes whether or not to pursue a revision or development process.  Following this, a state writing committee is formed to work on revision or development of those standards for all grade levels. That draft is then made available for open review to get feedback from the public, key stakeholders, educators, and the Legislature with further review by the State Superintendent’s Academic Standards Review Council (SSASRC). The State Superintendent then determines adoption of the standards.

• Academic Standards Review Process
• State Superintendent's Academic Standards Review Council
• Document

  This is a timeline of which WI Academic Standards will be reviewed each year through 2031 (500.24 KB)

Please note: A joint decision between the DPI and Department of Children and Families (DCF) has been made that the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS) will be governed through a joint DCF/DPI collaborative process with support from the Governor's Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC). The WMELS revision will not advance through the DPI's Wisconsin Academic Standards Review/Revision Process. The DPI and DCF are currently in the process of developing a new timeline and process for the WMELS revision. 

Wisconsin Academic Standards

Wisconsin Academic Standards define the knowledge and skills students should develop throughout their learning experiences. They establish clear goals for teaching and learning and serve as a model for local standards adoption.

Document Types

• Visit Subject Website — supporting resources and implementation materials
• Accessible Standards (Word) — WCAG 2.2 compliant document (direct download)
• Standards PDF — printer-friendly version

Archived standards are available on the Archived Academic Standards webpage.

Accessibility Information

Accessible documents are provided to support equitable access and meet WCAG 2.2 expectations.